Earlier this week, Google officially unveiled its new media streaming stick called the Chromecast. The device looks like a standard flash drive designed to connect directly to the HDMI port of a HDTV or computer monitor. Once connected to a display device, the Chromecast allows users to stream video from sources like YouTube and Netflix to the TV directly from their smartphone.

During the initial launch promotion for Google's new media streaming stick, it was offering three months of free Netflix video streaming service to both new and existing customers. That was approximately a $24 value in free streaming content for purchasing the $35 Chromecast. However, it looks as though customer demand has put a swift end to the Netflix promotion.

"Due to overwhelming demand for Chromecast devices since launch, the 3-month Netflix promotion (which was available in limited quantities) is no longer available," Google told the LA Times in a statement.

Google also offered some clarification, stating that all users who purchased the Chromecast before the promotion ended will be able to redeem their three free months of Netflix streaming video service.

quote: Yeah because you can totally build a HTPC for $35. Good point. Its just as portable too! Please think before you post

Many of us use old hardware for that sort of thing, so the depreciated value is effectively zero. Definitely consumes more power, less portable, but also more versatile.

I didn't get a chance to see the featurelist before it sold out, but it still looks like a pretty compelling $35 buy. The key want for me would be the ability to pay content off the home network NAS. I already have many (costing more than $35) devices that will play netflix.